The Trump administration is reportedly abandoning a fast-tracked training programme for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruits, following widespread criticism and bipartisan outrage over chaotic raids and violent arrests. The decision, first reported by Politico, comes after a series of incidents including in-custody deaths and fatal shootings of demonstrators.
A deal to revisit training standards was struck behind the scenes with lawmakers who control the agency's budget, resulting in what one official described as a 'handshake deal' that avoided a bitter debate during the government shutdown negotiations. ICE is now preparing to assign veteran officers to support recruits who graduated under the accelerated programme and to bolster training protocols for Enforcement and Removal Operations agents.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended its training, stating that 'ICE training does not end when recruits graduate from the academy' and that officers receive ongoing mentorship. However, a former ICE instructor turned whistleblower, Ryan Schwank, testified that claims of no cuts to critical training were 'a lie'. Internal documents show training hours dropped from 584 over 72 days to 336 over 42 days.
The accelerated programme was part of a push to add 10,000 agents to meet the president's deportation targets. DHS had shortened training from 13 weeks to six, offered signing bonuses up to $50,000, and lowered the minimum age to 18. Newly hired officers will now receive an extra 30 days of training they previously missed.
